A former Coronation Street star will feature in the latest series of hit BBC sitcom Mrs Brown’s Boys.

Debra Stephenson has been cast in the latest season of the BBC comedy according to reports.

The former Corrie star will reportedly play Anite in the upcoming series of the sitcom, created by and starring Brendan O’Carroll in the title role of the foul-mouthed Irish matriarch.

It will be the first full run of Mrs Brown’s Boys episodes to hit screens for more than a decade.

Basingstoke Gazette: Debra Stephenson has been cast in Mrs Brown’s BoysDebra Stephenson has been cast in Mrs Brown’s Boys (Image: Bang Showbiz)

A telly insider told the Daily Star newspaper’s Hot TV column: “Debra is perfect for the Mrs Brown’s Boys because she is brilliant at comedy.

“Producers are confident viewers are going to absolutely love her.”

Debra's character is rumoured to be the sister of Agnes Brown's daughter Cathy - who is played by Brendan’s real-life wife Jennifer Gibney- and teased that she will definitely be involved in "some brilliant storylines".

The source continued: “Debra is part of some brilliant storylines.

“There’s speculation she could be Cathy’s half-sister, so she could literally become part of the family.”

Debra - who famously starred as Frankie Baldwin on the ITV1 soap from 2004 until 2006 but has also acted in TV hits like Bad Girls and has also carved out a second career as a comedy impressionist - recently gushed about her parents' role in fostering her comedy chops as a child.